Gemotions

Maya bounced on the balls of her feet, her phone clutched tight in her hand. A goofy grin stretched across her face as she reread the message: "Hey, are you free to grab coffee sometime this week? I think I'm, like, a ten-minute walk from you!" It was Liam, her online confidant for the past six months, the voice that always knew how to make her laugh. Her apartment suddenly felt too small, the walls closing in. She needed to *do* something.

She sprinted to the mirror, smoothing down her hair and checking her teeth. A blush crept across her cheeks. A ten-minute walk? The possibilities swirled in her mind like a kaleidoscope. She mentally ran through her wardrobe, dismissing everything as unsuitable.

With a whoop, Maya flung open the window, gulping in the fresh air. The city, usually just a backdrop, seemed vibrant and alive. This was it – the moment she'd been secretly anticipating.